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Meet your school board candidates Page 3 VOL. 75 NO. 21
MAY 15 - 21, 2025
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Street festival season has feisty start in BV By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
Courtesy/Town of Babylon
At the grand opening of the Babylon Town Hall of Fame are Councilman Tony Martinez; Warren Fuller; Kia Wright; Danny Greene; Tom Gargiulo; Christopher Vaccaro, President of the S.C. Sports Hall of Fame; Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer; Councilman DuWayne Gregory and S.C. Exec. Ed Romaine.
New exhibit celebrates legacy of legendary local sports heroes By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled a new satellite exhibit at the Town of Babylon Annex, spotlighting hometown heroes whose athletic accomplishments have left an enduring mark on the Greater Babylon area. The exhibit, installed just outside the newly dedicated Tom Gargiulo Gymnasium on Phelps Lane, features more than 40 inductees connected to local communities — from sandlots to stadiums — each etched into the fabric of Suffolk County’s rich sports legacy. “This wall isn’t just a celebration of the
past—it’s a spark for the future,” said Chris R. Vaccaro, president of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. “We want every kid who walks through the annex to see those names and faces and to believe that greatness is within reach—and that they, too, can leave their mark on this community.” Among those featured are NBA champion Danny Green (North Babylon), MLB All-Star Billy Koch (West Babylon), NFL player Darryl Young, MLS veteran Chris Wingert (Babylon), and WNBA guard Bria Hartley (North Babylon). Hall of Famers Kia Wright of Copiague and Warren Fuller of Wyandanch, both basketball standouts, attended the unveiling. “This exhibit is a proud reminder that CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
The street festival season in Babylon Village was officially launched on May 3 with the annual Spring Fling, held under sunny skies. Deer Park Avenue quickly filled with excited children and families, eager to enjoy a day of fun, dining, live music, and shopping. Sponsored by the Babylon Village Arts Council, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and hosted by the Babylon Village Chamber of Commerce, the event showcased a variety of local vendors. Chamber President Tom Vitale highlighted this year’s focus on supporting community businesses. A new feature this year was the “Kid Zone,” which dedicated one end of the street to familyfriendly activities like bounce houses, face-painting, and the Long Island Aquarium’s Touch Tanks. “It’s our opening street fair for the season, and we’re proud to highlight more of our own local vendors,” Vitale said. “This event has fewer food trucks and outside vendors.” For 7-year-old Stevie Kroski, the pitching game was the highlight of the day, while his sister, 9-year-old Elizabeth, enjoyed browsing the shops and anticipating the arrival of her friends. “I love Babylon Village, and I hope everyone brings their dogs
out,” said Alexis Morello of M. Mae All Things Dog Boutique. Pam Serla of Behr’s Boutique, which also sold dog accessories, echoed similar sentiments. “Babylon is such a great town to be in, and it’s wonderful that it’s so dog-friendly,” she said. Local restaurants and eateries were open for outdoor dining or had set up vendor stands outside their shops. Favorites like The Villager, Argyle Grill & Tavern, Babylon Village Meat Market, and Torta Fina Bakeshoppe offered such treats as pretzels, popcorn, apple cider donuts, and lemonade. “The weather is perfect, and it’s great for the kids,” said Ken Donahue, who attended with his wife, Erica, and daughters, Amelia and Lola. Arianna Kenney, 4 ½, was thrilled to pick out a rubber ducky toy from one of the vendor stands. Live music was provided by Page Six, a 90s grunge and classic rock band made up of Babylon Junior-Senior High School seniors, as well as Orchyd, a classic rock group. “We’re excited to jam out and have fun,” said Brian Huggins, lead singer and guitarist for Orchyd. “I’m looking forward to interacting with the crowd,” added Caera Larkin, vocalist for Page Six. Maddie Dipietrantonio of CONTINUED ON PAGE 12